My First Year in College

Although I have not formally started my career, there have still been significant "character-building experineces" in my life. One of the more significant pertains to my first time away from home while attending Marquette University.

The Young and Very Cold!

During my first semester at Marquette, I was still trying to adjust to being away from home for the first time. I had just turned 18 years old a month earlier, and I thought I knew EVERYTHING. But in reality, I was still rather immature.

One of the harder aspects of my experience was adjusting to the weather in Wisconsin. In the middle of winter, I remember having to walk to my first class one morning during the fall semester. My class was at 8:00 and a 15-minute walk from my dormitory. The temperature (with the windchill) was -30 degrees. By the time I reached my class, I was frozen solid, or at least I felt that way. But the worst part was that the class was cancelled because the instructor was caught in the snow! So I just sat in the building, thawed out, and waited for my next class.

After winter had passed, I was told by my friends from Wisconsin that the winter I had suffered through was considered "mild" compared to others. I don't think I want to find out about the other ones!

A Long Year

I attended Marquette for one year and majored in computer science. I worked on a research project based on differential equations with one of my professors during the summer. As happy as I was that my professor asked me to work with him, the work was very tedious and unexciting at times. There weren't many students around since it was summer, so sometimes I felt a little isolated. However, in addition to the isolation, the weather was hot and sticky, and much of the summer was filled with rain and thunderstorms. The joke in Wisconsin is that there are only two seasons: winter and summer, both of which can be very uncomfortable.

However, enduring the "summer blues" and the desires to give up and return home to San José gave me a sense of accomplishment. I wouldn't say that I was happy about my decision, but just content that I finished what I started.

". . .in sickness and in health. . ."

By the time my sophomore year arrived, I had to drop out because I contracted a very bad case of mononucleosis. My mother flew out to Milwaukee to take care of me, but she was very upset that I was so sick. I had lost 20 pounds and looked pretty bad, so I can understand how she must have felt.

My sickness had a profound effect on me. Now I take very good care of myself by eating healthy and exercising, although I still enjoy an occasional pizza. I think my attitude has changed as well. I now realize that, at 26, I am not 18 years old anymore. For me, this means that I am not as invincible as I thought I was at 18. So I do what I can to take care of myself, while still having fun!